The Review has asked Carolina
professors of long standing to
share their perspectives this
year on the University's recent
past and where it
appears to be headed
in the new century.
This essay, by Michael
R . Smith ' 78 OD), a
professor and director
of the Institute of Government, explores Carolina's
legacy of public service to the
state of North Carolina and
asks: Is the University as committed today to improving
North Carolina as it was in
Edward Kidder Grahanl's era?

The
Long
View

Carolina is working hard to improve life in North Car- olina. Our slogan is: "Write to the University when you need help." We connect anyone interested in
being served with those who can provide the service, whether
a faculty member on campus or someone in a state agency.
North Carolina faces serious problems, and so the University
is helping all 100 counties consider their economic, educa-
tional, governmental and social improvement. We have prepared and distributed 40,000 copies of a booklet that contains
background information that will be used at a series of county
meetings. Counties will compare themselves along economic
and demographic dinlensions, and the meetings will facilitate a
hard look at improved public health, better schools and more
efficient local government.

Sound good? Are you happy to see the University supply-
ing this kind ofleadership? Did I mention th.at th.e year was
1914? President Edward Kidder Graham, who graduated in
UNC's class of 1898, initiated this program when North
Carolina was struggling to lose its reputation as the "Rip Van Win-
kle State." These planning meetings and related contributions
by the University were important in paving the way for many
of the social changes that later transformed North Carolina.

Carolina's public service mission gained its clearest and
most eloquent expression under the leadership of President
Edward Kidder Graham. His objective was to carry knowl-
edge to the state because he believed that the University was
"the instrument of democracy for realizing all of the high and
healthful aspirations of the state." Graham rejected the idea
that public service meant the University was "thinly stretching
out its resources" to the state, but instead he saw it as "the
radiating power ofa new passion." Albert Coates ' 18 founded
the Institute of Government after working closely with Gra-
ham, and it is clear that Graham's passion profoundly influ-